LANGLEY MILL FIRE: Tragedy had a huge impact on the fire service

Specialist fire investigation officers and police are still working together to find the cause of the Langley Mill fire, in which three people died.

The blaze occurred at a flat on North Street in the early hours of Sunday. Seventeen-year-old Amy Smith, her six-and-a-half-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt, and her friend Edward Green, also 17, were all sadly killed.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Gavin Tomlinson said: “The fire has had a huge impact on the fire and rescue service.

“The fire service works tirelessly to ensure the safety of everyone in the community and for firefighters who worked in exceptionally difficult conditions to try and rescue the deceased, it is extremely difficult to accept this tragic loss of life.

“The thoughts of everyone within the fire and rescue service are with both families at this sad time.

“Specialist fire investigation officers will continue to work with Derbyshire police to ensure that a thorough and robust investigation takes place to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s community safety teams will continue to work in the Langley Mill community for the remainder of the week, providing fire safety advice, information and reassurance to the local community. The Red Cross have also been providing emotional support to anyone affected by this tragedy.

Fire safety advice and information can also be accessed via the service’s website www.derbys-fire.gov.uk.